We have to go back 15 years to the housing crisis, when many people owed more for their home than it was worth. It was called being “upside down” and foreclosures skyrocketed.
So, the government stepped in and offered loan modifications allowing troubled homeowners to refinance their first and… Continue Reading
Solar Power seems to be a bright spot in today’s goal to achieve a clean energy future. One of the most powerful forces behind that effort is Tesla with its electric vehicles, charging stations and its home solar systems.
But, as you’re about to find out, some people are paying a very high… Continue Reading
Santa Ynez Valley, CA – Firefighters are responding to a vegetation fire in Los Olivos on Monday night It happened around 9:41 p.m. at 5100 Figueroa Block and Mountain Road., near a middle school in the area. Firefighters arrived at the scene assisting with the evacuation of students, who were all… Continue Reading
Our NewsChannel Tipline investigation takes us back to the first days of the pandemic when everything seemed to stop or shutdown.
A Santa Barbara man canceled his flight on Frontier Airlines touching off a long fight over a… Continue Reading
Our News Channel Tipline investigation exposes problems with one of the big online car dealers,… Continue Reading
In October, we introduced you to Gina Quiroz. She’s been homeless for almost six years. But, she’s putting her life back together with the ultimate goal of reuniting with her two… Continue Reading
Have you ever looked at someone who’s homeless and asked, How did they end up there? Was it something they did? Are they doing anything to change their situation? Gina’s journey, is just one story that answers those… Continue Reading
Our NewsChannel Tipline investigation delves into the dark world of hackers and thieves. We all deal with passwords, two-factor authentication, security questions, multi-step whatevers, it’s maddening. We do all of that to stop or at least slow down the crooks. However, sometimes, even that’s… Continue Reading
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – This NewsChannel 3 Tipline story profiles a Santa Barbara widow and her two and a half year fight against the Social Security Administration. It all boiled down to one thing, the government refused to recognize her marriage, even though she had been happily married to the… Continue Reading
For nearly two years, the NewsChannel 3 Tipline has reported on the problems at the California Employment Development Department, better known as the EDD. We’ve helped a lot of people. Sadly, this story is not one of… Continue Reading
COVID-19 has decimated the travel industry since the start of the pandemic and cruise lines may have gotten the worst of it. Their loyal customers have suffered as well.… Continue Reading
Tonight’s Tipline Investigation involves the largest online retailer in the world, Amazon. The retail giant became what it is today partly due to a network of small retailers who sell their products using Amazon’s Merchant… Continue Reading
A veteran tax preparer in San Luis Obispo knows all about dealing with complicated issues. He’s been preparing his clients taxes for more than 50… Continue Reading
We have an update on our Tipline investigation into the multi-billion dollar fraud in California’s unemployment… Continue Reading
We first profiled Leslie Jackson and her battle against the California Employment Development Department on April 25th. She had applied for benefits more than a year ago in March, 2020 but received nothing from the state. Jackson said the EDD made her go before a judge to prove her… Continue Reading
Santa Barbara resident Leslie Jackson filed for unemployment benefits more than a year ago and she’s still waiting. She filed her claim with the EDD in March, 2020 and like so many others, she had to go before a judge to prove her… Continue Reading
We have a heartwarming follow up now to a recent Tipline Investigation. A few weeks ago, we introduced you to Ernie Orosco. The professional guitarist started selling off his instruments to survive a year after applying for unemployment… Continue Reading
The last two years have been a nightmare for Dave and Daniela Henrey. They’re married, but he lives in the Santa Ynez Valley and she lives outside Bogota,… Continue Reading
We have another followup to the chaos within California’s unemployment system. Our series of reports have clearly shown how some people are desperately trying to survive as they deal with the broken… Continue Reading
The restaurant industry is hanging on by a thread during the pandemic from complete shutdowns, partial re-openings, take out only and outside not inside dining. They’ve been through a lot. However, one Santa Barbara restaurateur came close to getting a knock out blow.… Continue Reading
Heartbreaking scams that target senior citizens in our community are on the rise during the pandemic. The crooks don’t stop at pilfering bank accounts, they plunder the victims heart as… Continue Reading
The Employment Development Department which oversees the processing and distribution of employment insurance benefits has been under fire for its mishandling of the crisis.… Continue Reading
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Our series of Tipline reports about fraud in California’s unemployment system indicates the loss to taxpayers could hit a staggering eight billion dollars. Some law enforcement officials have already confirmed the fraud has been linked to prisoners at every jail and prison… Continue Reading
A Goleta man says the state paid him unemployment benefits that he never asked for and now he can’t get the EDD to take the money… Continue Reading
Trev Broudy has become an expert of sorts on the interaction between electricity and copper plumbing. For several months, he’s been on a mission to figure out why his home on the 100 block of Middle Road in Montecito has been electrified and why the tap water inside his home has dangerously high… Continue Reading
MONTECITO, Calif. – Trev Broudy looks back to February, 2019 when his Golden Retriever nearly died as the first indication something was wrong. He said the dog was anemic and losing weight. He spent about $15,000 on vet bills trying to help her but no one could figure it out, until one veterinarian… Continue Reading
One of the toughest battlegrounds in the fight against COVD-19 has played out at senior living facilities. Outbreaks can sweep through killing dozens of residents. Yet, for many seniors they are at home where they feel safe. So, imagine the difficult situation they would face if their insurance… Continue Reading
The NewsChannel has been investigating problems at the EDD since May and one of the top complaints we receive involves problems with the EDD’s ability to verify a claimants identity.… Continue Reading
A bipartisan group of 59 lawmakers from all over California are demanding Bank of America explain why money belonging to unemployed workers is being taken from their accounts.… Continue Reading
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Some Santa Barbara County jail inmates appear to be part of a statewide fraud scheme bilking hundreds of millions of dollars in state unemployment benefit payments. Santa Barbara County Assistant District Attorney Brian Cota joined more than 100 law enforcement officials… Continue Reading